1 Maccabees, 8

1. Now Judas had heard of the reputation of the Romans: how strong they were, and how well disposed towards any who made common cause with them, making a treaty of friendship with anyone who approached them.

1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to those who came to them,

2. (And, indeed, they were extremely powerful.) He had been told of their wars and of their prowess among the Gauls, whom they had conquered and put under tribute;

2. and that they were very strong. Men told him of their wars and of the brave deeds which they were doing among the Gauls, how they had defeated them and forced them to pay tribute,

3. and of all they had done in the province of Spain to gain possession of the silver and gold mines there,

3. and what they had done in the land of Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there,

4. making themselves masters of the whole country by their determination and perseverance, despite its great distance from their own; of the kings who came from the ends of the earth to attack them, only to be crushed by them and overwhelmed with disaster, and of others who paid them annual tribute;

4. and how they had gained control of the whole region by their planning and patience, even though the place was far distant from them. They also subdued the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and inflicted great disaster upon them; the rest paid them tribute every year.

5. Philip, Perseus king of the Kittim, and others who had dared to make war on them, had been defeated and reduced to subjection,

5. Philip, and Perseus king of the Macedonians, and the others who rose up against them, they crushed in battle and conquered.

6. while Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who had advanced to attack them with a hundred and twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots and a very large army, had also suffered defeat at their hands;

6. They also defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them;

7. they had taken him alive and imposed on him and his successors, on agreed terms, the payment of an enormous tribute, the surrender of hostages, and the cession

7. they took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign after him should pay a heavy tribute and give hostages and surrender some of their best provinces,

8. of the Indian territory, with Media, Lydia, and some of their best provinces, which they took from him and gave to King Eumenes.

8. the country of India and Media and Lydia. These they took from him and gave to Eumenes the king.

9. Judas had also heard how, when the Greeks planned an expedition to destroy the Romans,

9. The Greeks planned to come and destroy them,

10. the latter had got wind of it and, sending a single general against them, had fought a campaign in which they inflicted heavy casualties, carried their women and children away into captivity, pillaged their goods, subdued their country, tore down their fortresses and reduced them to a slavery lasting to the present day;

10. but this became known to them, and they sent a general against the Greeks and attacked them. Many of them were wounded and fell, and the Romans took captive their wives and children; they plundered them, conquered the land, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them to this day.

11. and how they had destroyed and subjugated all the other kingdoms and islands that resisted them.

11. The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as ever opposed them, they destroyed and enslaved;

12. But where their friends and those who relied on them were concerned, they had always stood by their friendship. They had subdued kings far and near, and all who heard their name went in terror of them.

12. but with their friends and those who rely on them they have kept friendship. They have subdued kings far and near, and as many as have heard of their fame have feared them.

13. One man, if they determined to help him and advance him to a throne, would certainly occupy it, while another, if they so determined, would find himself deposed; their influence was paramount.

13. Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings, and those whom they wish they depose; and they have been greatly exalted.

14. In spite of all this, no single one of them had assumed a crown or put on the purple for his own aggrandisement.

14. Yet for all this not one of them has put on a crown or worn purple as a mark of pride,

15. They had set up a senate, where three hundred and twenty councillors deliberated daily, constantly debating how best to regulate public affairs.

15. but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty senators constantly deliberate concerning the people, to govern them well.

16. They entrusted their government to one man for a year at a time, with absolute power over their whole empire, and this man was obeyed by all without envy or jealousy.

16. They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their land; they all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.

17. Having chosen Eupolemus son of John, of the family of Accos, and Jason son of Eleazar, Judas sent them to Rome to make a treaty of friendship and alliance with these people,

17. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance,

18. in the hope of being rid of the yoke, for they could see that Greek rule was reducing Israel to slavery.

18. and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was completely enslaving Israel.

19. The envoys made the lengthy journey to Rome and presented themselves before the Senate with their formal proposal:

19. They went to Rome, a very long journey; and they entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows:

20. 'Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to conclude a treaty of alliance and peace with you, and to enrol ourselves as your allies and friends.'

20. "Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends."

21. The proposal met with the approval of the senators.

21. The proposal pleased them,

22. Here is a copy of the rescript which they engraved on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem to be kept there by the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:

22. and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance:

23. 'Good fortune attend the Romans and the Jewish nation by sea and land for ever; may sword or enemy be far from them!

23. "May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.

24. 'If war comes first to Rome or any of her allies throughout her dominions,

24. If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,

25. the Jewish nation will take action as her ally, as occasion may require, and do it wholeheartedly.

25. the nation of the Jews shall act as their allies wholeheartedly, as the occasion may indicate to them.

26. They will not give or supply to the enemy any grain, arms, money or ships: thus has Rome decided, and they are to honour their obligations without guarantees.

26. And to the enemy who makes war they shall not give or supply grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep their obligations without receiving any return.

27. In the same way, if war comes first to the Jewish nation, the Romans will support them energetically as occasion may offer,

27. In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may indicate to them.

28. and the aggressor will not be furnished with grain, arms, money or ships: such is the Roman decision, and they will honour these obligations without treachery.

28. And to the enemy allies shall be given no grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep these obligations and do so without deceit.

29. Such are the articles under which the Romans have concluded their treaty with the Jewish people.

29. Thus on these terms the Romans make a treaty with the Jewish people.

30. If, later, either party should decide to make any addition or deletion, they will be free to do so, and any such addition or deletion will be binding.

30. If after these terms are in effect both parties shall determine to add or delete anything, they shall do so at their discretion, and any addition or deletion that they may make shall be valid.

31. 'As regards the wrongs done to them by King Demetrius, we have written to him in these terms: Why have you made your yoke lie heavy on our friends and allies the Jews?

31. "And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we have written to him as follows, `Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?

32. If they appeal against you again, we shall uphold their rights and make war on you by sea and land.'

32. If now they appeal again for help against you, we will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land.'"